Field poppy pollen

Papaver rhoeas

Very dark grey, nearly black, in the grey range.

FloweringJune to July

PollenGood

NectarNone

SeasonSummer

WhereFarmland, Waste and verge

Pollen only. The near black load is striking, and close to oriental poppy.

Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas) in flower — Photo: Anna.Massini, CC BY 4.0. Wikimedia Commons

Easy to mistake for these

Closest pollen colours in our set, measured the same way the pollen identifier scores a match. Colour alone will not settle it, so check the flowering months and what is actually growing near your hives.

Oriental poppyMay to July LupinJune to July Rosebay willowherbJuly to August Viper’s buglossJune to August BorageJune to September

Confused with in the field

Noted by name in our own records, rather than worked out from the colour.

Oriental poppyBlue grey to charcoal

Out at about the same time

BorageBlue grey BrambleGreenish grey Californian poppyBright orange Common limeYellow to greenish DogwoodPale creamy yellow ElderPale greyish yellow

Saw a load like this going in?

Sample the colour against all 89 plants, then keep a forage record per hive.

Pollen identifier